Riverside | wikipedia.org
Riverside | wikipedia.org
Riverside Township has announced the expansion of its Nurse’s Lending Closet service area following the closure of St. Barbara Lending Closet in Brookfield. The St. Barbara facility, which provided durable medical goods, has closed permanently.
For more than 20 years, Riverside Township has operated a Nurse’s Closet that offers free loans of medical items to township residents. Traditionally, these services have been limited to those living within township boundaries: Harlem to 9th Avenue and Cermak to 39th.
At its meeting on September 9, 2025, the Riverside Township Board of Trustees decided to expand access beyond these borders. The lending closet will now serve all residents of Riverside, North Riverside, and Brookfield.
"In view of the fact that our closet is stocked from donations, and we do not have any direct outlay of tax dollars for this service, at its meeting on September 9, 2025, the Riverside Township Board of Trustees approved the expansion of our lending closet service area, beyond the township borders to include all of Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield," stated the board.
The move aims to address concerns from those who previously relied on the now-closed St. Barbara Lending Closet.
"We hope this will alleviate some of the concerns of those who have come to rely on the former Lending Closet on 47th Street," said officials.
The Nurse’s Closet operates Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Residents can call 708-442-4400 or visit riversidetownship.org for information about available social services.
Loans are available for up to three months. While donations are accepted for most durable medical goods, items such as hospital beds, soft fabric personal items, mechanical devices or electronic equipment cannot be accepted due to storage limitations.
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